Italian authorities have launched legal proceedings that could see Napoli and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis face trial over alleged financial irregularities linked to player transfers, including the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
The investigation, led by prosecutors in Rome, focuses on Napoli’s financial dealings between 2019 and 2021, particularly the transfers of Kostas Manolas from Roma and Osimhen from Lille.
Osimhen’s €70 million move in 2020 has drawn scrutiny, mainly due to the inclusion of four players—valued at approximately €20 million—who moved to Lille, with three never making an appearance for the French club.
Napoli’s legal team has dismissed the case as baseless, calling the decision to push for a trial “incomprehensible.” Lawyers Fabio Fulgeri and Lorenzo Contrada argue that independent assessments confirm the club’s compliance with Italian financial regulations.
They remain confident that the case will be resolved in Napoli’s favor, noting that Italy’s football federation (FIGC) had previously reviewed the matter without finding any violations.
A judge is expected to decide within the next six months whether the case will proceed to trial—a process that could take years. However, sources close to the matter suggest that even in the event of a guilty verdict, Napoli is unlikely to face penalties from the FIGC.
Osimhen played a crucial role in Napoli’s 2023 Serie A title win—the club’s first since the legendary Diego Maradona era—scoring 26 goals alongside teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Despite this success, Osimhen later expressed interest in a move to the English Premier League. A proposed transfer fell through last summer, leading to his temporary sidelining before securing a loan move to Galatasaray in September 2024.
